The Problem with E-mail and Texting as Business Communication Tools
For the sake of a broader argument, I’m going to lump Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter into this quick little e-mail/text rant about the inherent inefficiencies with using anything other than voice or face-to-face communication to get things done. And while there is no argument that e-mail, text and the aforementioned social networks have changed the way humans communicate and interact, I firmly believe that they are impediments when people try to use them for business communications.
Nothing is more infuriating than trying to convey subtlety or nuance in an e-mail or text message. There is no tone or inflection and the resulting potential for confusion or misunderstandings can lead to major problems down the line. If you’re using LinkedIn or Twitter to stay on top of an actively-mined personal or professional network, you’re likely going to be the first to learn of the latest high salary sales jobs that open up among your friends or colleagues. But you don’t want to rely on those platforms when trying to communicate any important business questions, ideas or decisions.
E-mail and texting are fantastic supplements to voice communication, but at this point they can’t replace it. It’s always faster to call and anything beyond a few words is much easier to clearly communicate via voice, even if you’re leaving a message. Having the digital archives that e-mail and text provide are also great perks, but when it comes to actually getting the point across or delivering the message, voice and face-to-face are still without rival.
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How do I add this to my RSS reader? Sorry I’m a newbie